Support device and palpation device and methods of use

ABSTRACT

Methods and a palpation device. A subject pose determining method includes placing a subject onto a surface of a platform having a first radio-frequency transceiver and a second radio-frequency transceiver. The subject is a human being. A first radio-frequency transponder is placed onto an upper extremity of the subject. A second radio-frequency transponder is placed onto a lower extremity of the subject. A first signal is transmitted from the first transceiver to the first transponder, resulting in the first transponder sending a second signal. A third signal is transmitted from the second transceiver to the second transponder, resulting in the second transponder sending a fourth signal. The second signal is received by the first transceiver. The fourth signal is received by the second transceiver. A pose of the subject is determined based on receiving the second signal and the fourth signal. A palpation device and method are also included.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to methods and devices for supportingand palpating a subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rapid, accurate, and cost-effective medical diagnosis, evaluation, andmonitoring are important in patient care. Relatively recent requirementsinclude the capability for local, remote, and in-transit patientassessments. Patients and victims of chemical or biological weapons maypose a health risk to medical personnel responsible for examination anddiagnosis. Recent threats of world-wide viral epidemics, and chemicaland biological acts of terrorism may require rapid correlation andidentification of disease outbreaks and vectors, and a means of reducingparticular dangers in the use of highly-trained medical personnel forexposure to wide numbers of patients during disease and injuryscreening, such as in a mass casualty situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a subject pose determining methodcomprising:

placing a subject onto a surface of a platform, said platform having afirst radio-frequency transceiver located at a first location on saidsurface and a second radio-frequency transceiver located at a secondlocation on said surface, wherein said subject is a human being;

placing a first radio-frequency transponder onto an upper extremity ofsaid subject;

placing a second radio-frequency transponder onto a lower extremity ofsaid subject;

transmitting a first radio-frequency signal from said firstradio-frequency transceiver to said first radio-frequency transponder onsaid upper extremity of said subject, resulting in said firstradio-frequency transponder sending a second radio-frequency signal tosaid first radio-frequency transceiver;

transmitting a third radio-frequency signal from said secondradio-frequency transceiver to said second radio-frequency transponderon said lower extremity of said subject, resulting in said secondradio-frequency transponder sending a fourth radio-frequency signal tosaid second radio-frequency transceiver;

receiving by said first radio-frequency transceiver said secondradio-frequency signal;

receiving by said second radio-frequency transceiver said fourthradio-frequency signal; and

determining a pose of said subject based on said receiving said secondradio-frequency signal and said receiving said fourth radio-frequencysignal.

The present invention relates to a palpation method, comprising:

placing a subject horizontally onto a transducer array disposed on asurface of a support device, said transducer array disposed between saidsupport device and said subject, said transducer array comprising aplurality of piezoelectric transducers, wherein said subject is a humanbeing;

sending a first signal to at least one piezoelectric transducer of saidplurality of piezoelectric transducers, each piezoelectric transducer ofsaid at least one piezoelectric transducer in direct contact with aportion of external tissue of said subject, resulting in said eachpiezoelectric transducer actuating and exerting a first force againstsaid portion of external tissue; and

receiving from said each piezoelectric transducer a second signal inresponse to said exerting said first force against said portion ofexternal tissue, said second signal resulting from a second forceexerted by said portion of external tissue against said eachpiezoelectric transducer in response to said each piezoelectrictransducer exerting said first force.

The present invention relates to a palpation device, comprising:

a platform configured to support a subject;

a transducer array disposed on a surface of said platform, saidtransducer array disposed between said platform and said subject, saidtransducer array comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transducers;

a first radio-frequency transceiver located at a first location on saidsurface, said first radio-frequency transceiver configured to receiveradio-frequency signals from a first radio-frequency transponder;

a second radio-frequency transceiver located at a second location onsaid surface radio-frequency transceiver configured to receiveradio-frequency signals from a second radio-frequency transponder; and

a control system operably coupled to said first radio-frequencytransceiver and said second radio-frequency transceiver, said controlsystem coupled to said transducer array and configured to direct eachpiezoelectric transducer of said plurality of piezoelectric transducersto actuate, said control system configured to receive data from saidfirst radio-frequency transducer and said second radio-frequencytransducer, said data relating to said radio-frequency signals from saidfirst radio-frequency transponder, said data relating to saidradio-frequency signals from said second radio-frequency transponder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a support device, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example of a computer system, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a subject pose determining method,in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the support device of FIG. 1 having asubject placed on the surface, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a palpation method, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although certain embodiments of the present invention will be shown anddescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theappended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way belimited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof,the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and aredisclosed simply as examples of embodiments. The features and advantagesof the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout the drawings. Although the drawings are intended toillustrate the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example of a support device 100,comprising a platform 105. The support device 100 may be configured tosupport a subject (such as a patient) disposed on a surface 115 of theplatform 105. The subject may be supported on the surface 115 while thesubject is lying essentially horizontally on the surface 115, forexample. For example, the support device 100 may be part of or comprisea gurney or hospital patient stretcher on which patients receivingmedical care may be supported, treated, transported, or a combination ofthese. The support device 100 may be configured to be attached to amedical gurney or stretcher, such as with interlocking structures,clamps, straps, etc. The subjects described herein may be human beings.It is recognized that the devices and methods described herein may beutilized in conjunction with non-human subjects such as in the exampleof veterinary care of animals, such as non-human primates, for example.

The support device 100 may comprise a sensor array 110 disposed on thesurface 115. The sensor array 110 may comprise a plurality of sensorunits 120. The sensor array 110 may comprise a transducer array, whereineach sensor unit 120 of the plurality of sensor units comprises atransducer. Each sensor unit 120 of the plurality of sensor units 120may comprise a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducersdescribed herein may be configured such that the piezoelectrictransducers transmit an electrical voltage signal when pressure isapplied to the transducer, wherein the piezoelectric transducer maybehave as a piezoelectric sensor capable of measuring the appliedpressure. The piezoelectric transducer described herein may beconfigured such that a portion of the transducer is moved upon receivingan electrical voltage signal, wherein the piezoelectric transducer maybehave as a piezoelectric actuator or piston which may apply adirectional force through movement of the portion of the piezoelectrictransducer. The range of movement of the piezoelectric transducer may bein a range from about 0 centimeters (cm) to about 2 cm, for example,about 1 cm.

The sensor array 110 may comprise a plurality of sensor units 120,wherein the number of sensor units 120 may be in a range between about 2and about 500 sensor units, such as about 450 sensor units. The sensorunits 120 may be hingedly interconnected or attached in a manner suchthat the sensor array 110 comprises a single sheet or grid, where thesheet is flexible due to the hinged connection between adjacent sensorunits 120. The sheet may be sufficiently flexible so as to essentiallyconform to an exterior surface of a subject laying on the sensor array121. The sensor units 120 may comprise square or octagonal surfaceswhich may be allow for arranging the sensor units 120 into a sensorsheet in a tessellated or grid pattern.

The support device 100 may comprise at least one control system 130,operably coupled to the sensor array 110, sensor units 120 of the sensorarray 110, and components of the support device 100 (vide infra), wherethe control system may be physically coupled to the support device 100or may be wirelessly coupled such as through a wirelesstelecommunication connection. The control system 130 may be configuredsuch that the control system may receive, detect, and process signals(such as electrical, light, sound, etc.) received from the sensor array110, sensor units 120, and components of the support device 100. Thecontrol system 130 may convert the received signals into datarepresentative of the signals, and to analyze the representative data,where the data may be stored in a memory storage device or transmittedby the control system to an external computer system or display screen.The control system 130 may direct the activation and operation ofcomponents of the support device 100, such as receiving signals from andtransmitting signals to the sensor units 120 and other components, wherea user may interact with the control system 130, through wired orwireless communication devices, to direct or control components of thesupport device 130. For example, where the plurality of sensor units 120comprises a plurality of piezoelectric transducers, the control system130 may direct at least one piezoelectric transducer of the plurality ofpiezoelectric transducers to actuate by sending a signal to eachpiezoelectric transducer of the at least one piezoelectric transducer.The control system 130 may automatically control the components of thesupport device 100 through an algorithm stored in memory of the controlsystem 130 and based on data received from RF transceivers 140, RFtransponders, the sensor array 110, commands from a user through wiredor wireless communication, and combinations of these. Data relating tothe location of each sensor unit 120 of the sensor array 110 may bestored in the control system 130 such that the control system 130 maydirect the actuation of individual or groups of sensor units 120 basedon commands received directing sensor unit actuation in a desiredlocation on the support device 130.

The control system 130 may comprise a communication device fortransmitting data, sending commands, receiving commands from a remotelocation, or a combination of these. The communication device may be awired device such as a telephone line, cable line, etc. or wirelesstelecommunications device such as a wireless telephone, satellitetelephone, shortwave radio, etc.

The support device 100 may further comprise at least one radio-frequency(RF) transceiver 140 configured such that the at least one RFtransceiver may receive and transmit RF signals. Each of the at leastone RF transceivers 140 may be operably coupled to an antenna. Theradio-frequency transceivers described herein may transmit and receiveRF signals through the antenna. In some embodiments, the at least one RFtransceiver 140 comprises at least two RF transceivers 140. In someembodiments, the at least one RF transceiver 140 comprises a pluralityof RF transceivers such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 RF transceivers. Theat least one RF transceiver 140 may be disposed on the platform 105. Theat least one RF transceiver 140 may be configured such that the at leastone RF transceiver may transmit a first radio-frequency signal to atleast two radio-frequency transponders, where the at least tworadio-frequency transponders are configured such that the at least tworadio-frequency transponders may receive the first radio-frequencysignal and transmit a second radio frequency signal in response toreceiving the first radio-frequency signal, and wherein the at least oneRF transceiver 140 is configured such that the at least one RFtransceiver 140 receives the second radio-frequency signal. Eachradio-frequency transponder may, for example, be a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag known in the art and capable of receiving atleast one RF signal from a RF transceiver and then transmitting a secondRF signal in response to receiving the first RF signal. The RFID tag maycomprise a microchip encoded with an algorithm capable of decipheringreceived RF signals and directing the RFID tag to transmit anappropriate RF signal in response, such as an RF signal comprising dataidentifying the RFID tag.

The at least one RF transceiver 140 may be operably connected to thecontrol system 130, where the at least one RF transceiver 140 maytransmit signals to the control system 130 and receive signals from thecontrol system 130, where the control system 130 may transform thereceived signals into data and analyze and/or store the data, where thedata may represent information relating to locations of the at least tworadio frequency transponders in relation to the at least one RFtransceiver 140 (such as distance and direction from the at least one RFtransceiver 140), information identifying each of the at least two radiofrequency transponders, or a combination of these.

The control system 130 may comprise a computer system configured suchthat the control system 130 may analyze data relating to signalsreceived by the control system 130, such as signals received from thesensor array, RF transceivers 140, external computer systems, users,combinations of these, etc. The computer system may analyze the databased on receiving commands from a user. The computer system may have acomputer program stored therein, where the compute program may beconfigured such that the computer system may analyze the data from theRF transceivers 140 based on receiving remote commands from a user, suchas commands sent through a wired or wireless telecommunication system.The control system 130 may be configured such that the control system130 may direct at least one sensor unit 120 of the plurality of sensorunits 120 of the sensor array 110 to actuate based on the data receivedfrom RF transceivers 140, where the received data may represent the poseof a subject laying on the support device 100. The term “pose”, as usedherein, is defined as the posture of a subject's body and extremitieswith respect to the support device on which the subject's body isdisposed. For example, a subject may have a pose where the subject islaying essentially horizontally on their back on a support device andwhere the subject's head is located at one end of the support device andthe subject's feet are located a second end. In another example, asubject may have a pose where the subject is laying on their side on asupport device with the subject's knees pulled up to the subject'schest, where the subject's head is located at one end of the supportdevice and the subject's feet are location in the middle of the supportdevice. Is it understood that in addition to the examples above of posesa subject may have while disposed on the support devices disclosedherein, there exists a large number of possible poses of a subject, allof which are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

For example, a physician at a remote location, examining a patient lyingon a support device as described herein where each sensor unit comprisesa piezoelectric transducer, may send commands to the controller topalpate an upper extremity of the patient by determining the location ofthe patients upper extremity. The control system (or computer systemtherein) may analyze data received from the RF transceivers anddetermine the location of the patient's upper extremity (vide infra).Base on the analyzed data, the controller may then direct the actuationof sensor units in contact with the upper extremity of the subject,where the number of sensor units to be actuated may be dictated by apreset value, a command from the user, or a combination of these.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example of a computer system 90 asdescribed herein. The computer system 90 comprises a processor 91, aninput device 92 coupled to the processor 91, an output device 93 coupledto the processor 91, and computer-readable storage media 94 and 95 eachcoupled to the processor 91. The input device 92 may be, inter alia, akeyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a touch sensitive computer screen, ajoystick, a combination of these, etc. The output device 93 maycomprise, inter alia, a printer, a plotter, a computer display screen ormonitor, a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, acombination of these, etc. The output device may comprise acommunication device, such as a phone modem, a wireless modem, a cablemodem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, an Ethernet connectionwith an network interface card (NIC), etc., or a combination of thesewhich may connect to the communications network 130. Thecomputer-readable storage media 94 and 95 may comprise, inter alia,memory devices such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, anoptical storage such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc(DVD), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read-only memory (ROM),a flash memory data storage device such as a universal serial bus (USB)flash drive, etc. The computer-readable storage medium 95 may include acomputer code 97 which is a computer program that comprisescomputer-executable instructions. The computer code 97 may includealgorithms for analyzing data received from RF transceivers, fordetermining a pose of a subject based on the analyzed data, fordirecting the piezoelectric transducers to actuate, or a combination ofthese. The processor 91 may execute the computer code 97. Thecomputer-readable storage medium 94 may include input data 96. The inputdata 96 may include input required by the computer code 97. The outputdevice 93 may display output from the computer code 97. Either or bothcomputer-readable storage media 94 and 95 (or one or more additionalcomputer-readable storage media not shown in FIG. 2) may be used as acomputer usable medium (or a computer readable medium or a programstorage device) having a computer readable program embodied thereinand/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readableprogram comprises the computer code 97. Generally, a computer programproduct (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computersystem 90 may comprise said computer usable medium (or said programstorage device).

Thus the present invention discloses a process for supporting computerinfrastructure, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deployingcomputer-readable code into the computer system 90, wherein the code incombination with the computer system 90 is capable of performing amethod for determining a pose of a subject as described herein and forperforming palpation methods as described herein.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a subject pose determining method.Step 200 comprises placing a subject onto a surface of a platform. Theplatform may comprise the support device described above and illustratedin FIG. 1. The platform may have a first end and a second end opposingthe first end. The platform may be configured such that the platform maysupport a subject on the surface of the platform, such as a subjectlying essentially horizontally for example. A first radio-frequency (RF)transceiver may be disposed at a first location on the platform, and maybe operably coupled to a first antenna. A second RF transceiver may bedisposed at a second location on the platform and may be operablycoupled to a second antenna. The first location may comprise the firstend of the platform, and the second location may comprise the second endof the platform, for example. The RF transceivers and antennas maycomprise the RF transceivers and antennas described above, where the RFtransceivers transmit and receive RF signals.

Step 205 comprises placing a first RF transponder onto an upperextremity of the subject. The first RF transponder may be configuredsuch that the first RF transponder may receive a first RF signal andsend a second RF signal in response to receiving said first radiofrequency signal. For example, the first RF transponder may comprise anRFID tag as described above, where the tag may be placed on an upperextremity of a subject. An upper extremity as used herein is defined asa portion of a subject's body above the subject's waist, such asshoulder, arm, neck, head, wrist, chest, combinations of these, etc. Thefirst RF transponder may comprise a microchip encoded with identifyingdata which identifies the first RF transponder as a transponder which isattached to an upper extremity. The first RF transponder may be placeddirectly onto the skin or hair of the subject, or may be placed onclothing covering the upper extremity, for example, using adhesive,straps, clips, fasteners, etc. The second RF signal transmitted by thefirst RF transponder may comprise a signal corresponding to theidentifying data, such as data which identifies the first RF transponderas one which is located on an upper extremity of a subject, such thatreceiving a signal from the first transponder indicates that the firsttransponder and upper extremity are in close proximity to an RFtransceiver receiving the signal from the first transponder.

Step 210 comprises placing a second radio-frequency transponder onto alower extremity of the subject. The second RF transponder may beconfigured such that the second RF transponder may receive a third RFsignal and send a fourth RF signal in response to receiving the thirdradio frequency signal. For example, the second RF transponder maycomprise an RFID tag as described above, where the tag may be placed ona lower extremity of a subject. The term lower extremity as used hereinis defined as a portion of a subject's body below the subject's waist,such as the subject's leg, knee, foot, hip, stomach, buttocks,combinations of these, etc. The second RF transponder may comprise amicrochip encoded with identifying data which identifies the second RFtransponder as a transponder which is attached to a lower extremity. Thesecond RF transponder may be placed directly onto the skin or hair ofthe subject, or may be placed on clothing covering the lower extremity,for example, using adhesive, straps, clips, fasteners, etc. The fourthRF signal transmitted by the second RF transponder may comprise a signalcorresponding to identifying data, such as data which identifies thesecond RF transponder as one which is located on a lower extremity of asubject, such that receiving a signal from the second transponderindicates that the second transponder and lower extremity are in closeproximity to the RF transceiver receiving the signal from the secondtransponder.

Each of the RF transponders described herein may have a transmissionrange or distance, where a response RF signal sent by the RF transpondermay be detected by a RF transceiver 140 near the RF transponder. As usedherein, the term “near” is defined as within the transmission range ofthe RF transponder to which the term “near” refers. For example, a RFtransponder having a transmission range of about 10 cm may transmit a RFsignal, where a RF transceiver located within 10 cm of the RFtransponder is described as being near the RF transponder and may detectthe RF signal. Ranges of transmission may depend on signal amplitude andfrequency. Signal frequencies may range from about 30 kilohertz (kHz) toabout 300 kHz, such as about 125 kHz or about 134 kHz. In anotherexample, signal frequencies may range from about 3 megahertz (MHz) toabout 30 MHz, such as about 13.56 MHz. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that, in general, lower frequencies result in shortertransmission ranges. Ranges of transmission for RF transpondersdescribed herein may be from about 0 cm to about 100 cm, such as fromabout 0 cm to about 50 cm.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the support device 100 of FIG. 1 having asubject 250 placed on the surface 115 of the support device 100, wherethe support device comprises a plurality of RF transceivers 140A, 140B,140C, 140D, 140E, 140F, and 140G disposed on the surface 115, thesupport device having a first end 202 and second opposing end 201. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 4, a first RF transponder 265 has beenplaced on an upper extremity of the subject 250, where the first RFtransponder has a first transmission range 270. At least one RFtransceiver, 140D and 140G, are near the first RF transponder 265 andwithin the first transmission range 270. RF signals transmitted from thefirst RF transponder 265 will be detected by the RF transceivers 140Dand 140G. RF transceivers 140A, 140B, 140C, 140E, and 140F are notwithin the first transmission range and will not detect RF signalstransmitted from the first RF transponder 265. A second RF transponder255 has been placed on a lower extremity of the subject 250, where thesecond RF transponder has a second transmission range 260. At least oneRF transceiver 140A is located near the second RF transponder 140Awithin the second transmission range 260. RF signals transmitted fromthe second RF transponder 255 will be detected by RF transceiver 140A.RF transceivers 140B, 140C, 140D, 140E, 140F, and 140G are not withinthe second transmission range and will not detect RF signals transmittedfrom the second RF transponder 255.

Each RF transponder described herein may comprise a computer microchipcapable of being programmed and storing data, where the data maycomprise information such as information about the particular RFtransponder, the location of the transponder (such as on an upperextremity, lower extremity, etc.), patient information (such as name,address, government issued identification numbers, medical conditions,blood type, etc.), or a combination of these. For example, the storeddata may comprise a number or series of numbers corresponding to apatient, the RF transponder, a body extremity, a combination of these,etc. The data stored within the microchip of each RF transponder may besent to a RF transceiver as an RF signal in response to receiving a RFsignal from an RF transceiver. An RF signal received by the transponderfrom an RF transceiver may serve as a means to provide power to the RFtransponder, a means to transmit at least one command to the RFtransponder, or both.

Commands sent via an RF signal by a transceiver to a RF transponder mayinclude a command to transmit an appropriate response signal indicatingwhich RF transceiver signal was received by the RF transponder. Forexample, a first RF transponder receiving a first RF signal from a firstRF transceiver may be commanded by the first RF signal to transmit asecond RF signal, and the first RF transponder receiving a third RFsignal from a second RF transceiver may be commanded to by the third RFsignal to transmit a fourth RF signal, where the second RF signal andthe fourth RF signal are different. The second and fourth RF signals inthis example may, for example, be used to identify which RF transceivercommanded the first RF transponder to transmit each of the second andfourth RF signals RF signal using date in each of the second and fourthRF signals. Commanding the first RF transponder may be accomplishedthrough data transmitted in each of the first and third RF signals or bythe frequency of each of the first and third signals, where thefrequency of each received RF signal by the first transponder commandsthe first transponder to transmit an RF signal having a predeterminedfrequency. A computer microchip in the first transponder may be utilizedto analyze each received RF signal to determine an appropriate RF signalto transmit in response, such as by using an algorithm programmed intothe computer microchip.

Referring again to FIG. 3 Step 215 comprises transmitting the first RFsignal from the first RF transceiver to the first RF transponder on theupper extremity of the subject, resulting in the first RF transpondersending the second RF signal to the first RF transceiver. The controlsystem described above may direct the first RF transceiver to transmitthe first signal. The RF transceivers described herein may transmit RFsignals through the antenna operably coupled to the RF transceiver, andsignals received by the RF transceiver may be received through theantenna. The first RF signal may have an appropriate amplitude andfrequency such that the first RF transponder must be near the first RFtransceiver to receive the first signal, such as in a range from about 0cm to about 50 cm of the first RF transceiver. For example, the secondRF signal may comprise data indicating that the first RF transponder islocated on an upper extremity of the subject. Thus, a signal receivedfrom the first RF transponder by the first RF transceiver indicates aclose proximity of the first RF transponder to the first RF transceiver(located at the first location on the platform) and that, based on thereceived data, the first RF transponder is located on an upper extremityof the subject, indicating that the subject's upper extremity is locatedin close proximity to the first location on the platform.

Step 220 comprises transmitting the third RF signal from the second RFtransceiver to the second RF transponder on the lower extremity of thesubject, resulting in the second RF transponder sending the fourth RFsignal to the second RF transceiver. The control system described abovemay direct the second RF transceiver to transmit the third signal. Thethird RF signal may have an appropriate amplitude and frequency suchthat the second RF transponder must be near the second RF transceiver toreceive the third RF signal, such as in a range from about 0 cm to about50 cm of the second RF transceiver. For example, the third RF signal maycomprise data indicating that the second RF transponder is located on alower extremity of the subject. Thus, a RF signal received from thesecond RF transponder by the second RF transceiver indicates a closeproximity of the second RF transponder (attached to a lower extremity)to the second RF transceiver (located at the second location on theplatform) and that, based on the received data, the second RFtransponder is located on a lower extremity of the subject, indicatingthat the subject's lower extremity is located in close proximity to thesecond location on the platform.

Step 225 comprises receiving, by the first RF transceiver, the second RFsignal. Step 230 comprises receiving, by the second RF transceiver, thefourth RF signal.

Step 235 comprises determining a pose of the subject based on receivingthe second RF signal and receiving the fourth RF signal. Receiving thesecond RF signal by the first RF transceiver indicates that the first RFtransponder on the subject's upper extremity is near the first RFtransceiver located at the first location on the platform. Receiving thefourth RF signal by the second RF transceiver indicates that the secondRF transponder on the subject's lower extremity is near the second RFtransceiver located at the second location on the platform. Thus, thesubject's pose with respect to two locations on the platform may bedetermined, such as the subject's upper body is located at the first endof the platform and the subject's lower body is located at the secondend of the platform.

The determination may allow a user remotely accessing the platform andsupport devices described herein to determine a subject's pose on theplatform before operating other sensors and analyzing data received fromdifferent sensor unit locations on the sensor array. For example, aphysician monitoring data wirelessly received from the sensor array fora patient lying on the array in a location remote from the physician,may need to know whether the signals received originate from an upperextremity or a lower extremity. The determination described above mayallow such a user to make the determination without being required todirectly see the patient. In another example, a nurse wirelesslymonitoring a patient lying in another area of a hospital wing on anarray of a support device as described here, may wish to determine ifthe patient is still in a correct pose for proper administration ofintravenous fluids the patient is receiving. The determination describedabove may allow such a user to make the determination without having toleave a nurse monitoring station. Similarly, a medical technician flyinga medical evacuation helicopter may need to determine a patient hasremained in a secure pose while being transported in the helicopter.Such a user may be able to make the determination without looking awayfrom the controls of the aircraft or leaving the pilot's seat using themethod described herein.

The platform further may further comprise a computer system, such as thecomputer system described above for example, operably coupled to thefirst radio-frequency transceiver and the second radio-frequencytransceiver. The computer system may be part of the control systemdescribed above. The computer system may be physically connected to thetransceivers, or may be wirelessly coupled to the transceivers such asthrough a wireless telecommunication connection, for example.Determining a pose of the subject may include receiving data from thefirst and second radio-frequency transceivers by the computer system,where the data corresponds to the second and fourth radio-frequencysignals. The computer may then analyze the received data and determine,based on the analyzing that the first radio-frequency transponder on theupper extremity of the subject is located near the first radio-frequencytransceiver disposed on the first end, and that the secondradio-frequency transponder on the lower extremity of the subject islocated near the second radio-frequency transceiver disposed on thesecond end. Analyzing may comprise comparing the received data to knownvalues stored in memory representing identifying information for eachtransponder, such as a serial number, signal frequency, location on theplatform, etc.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a palpation method. The method maypermit a user to palpate a subject without making direct physicalcontact with the subject, such as from a remote location. For example, avictim of biological or chemical contamination may be located in anisolation area or otherwise remotely located, where direct contact withthe victim/patient poses a hazard to the examining medical personnel.The examining individual may wish to palpate areas of the patient'sexternal tissue to determine the extent of injuries, such as swelling,inflammation, tissue trauma, etc. The user may remotely palpate asubject after determining a pose of the subject as described in thesteps above.

Step 300 comprises placing a subject onto a transducer array disposed ona surface of a support device. The support device may be a supportdevice such as described above and may support a subject, such as in anessentially horizontal pose. As described herein, the support device mayfunction as a palpation device for performing a palpation method (videinfra). The support device may comprise at least two RF transceivers asdescribed above. The transducer array may be disposed between thesupport device and the subject, where the transducer array may comprisea plurality of piezoelectric transducers, such as the sensor arraydescribed above comprising a plurality of sensor units each comprising apiezoelectric transducer. For example, a patient may be made to lay downon the sensor array of a gurney comprising the support device describedabove, where the patient's full weight rests on the transducer array.

Step 305 comprises sending a first signal to at least one piezoelectrictransducer of the plurality of piezoelectric transducers, where the atleast one piezoelectric transducer is in direct contact with a portionof external tissue of the subject, resulting in the at least onepiezoelectric transducer actuating and exerting a first force againstthe portion of external tissue. For example, the first signal may besent by a user using a control system such as is described above, wherethe first signal may direct the at least one piezoelectric transducer toactuate and press against the tissue of the subject resting against theat least one piezoelectric transducer. The at least one piezoelectrictransducer may comprise two or more transducers, such as 10, 20, 30, orall transducers in the array, for example. The numbers of piezoelectrictransducers used may be determined by the size of the area a user wishesto palpate.

Step 310 comprises receiving from the at least one piezoelectrictransducer a second signal in response to exerting the first forceagainst the portion of external tissue, where the second signal resultsfrom a second force exerted against the at least one piezoelectrictransducer in response to the at least one piezoelectric transducerexerting the first force. For example, when the at least onepiezoelectric transducer exerts the first force against the tissue of asubject, the tissue may have a particular density and pliability orhardness. The resistance of the subject's tissue to indentation by theat least one transducer is a resistive force directed back against thetransducer, generating the second signal transmitted from thepiezoelectric transducer. The second signal may be received by a user,such as through a control system coupled to the transducer array, wherethe control system may be configured as described above.

The method of FIG. 5 may further comprise steps 315 and step 320. Step315 comprises analyzing the second signal and the first signal.Analyzing may comprise analyzing using a computer algorithm in acomputer system, such as the computer system described above, capable ofconverting the signals into data representing the signals, where thecomputer system may be coupled to the support device. For example, thesupport device may comprise a control system, as described above,coupled to the transducer array where the control system may direct eachpiezoelectric transducer of the at least one piezoelectric transducer toactuate. The support device may comprise a communication device operablycoupled to the control system, where the communication device mayreceive commands from a remote source and relay commands to the controlsystem. The computer system may be a remote computer system where thecomputer system may be coupled via a wireless or wired connection to thesupport device such as through the communication device.

For example before sending the first signal in step 305, a first commandmay be received by the communication device, such as from a user,external computer system, or a control system transmitting commands tothe communication device for directing the operation of the transducerarray. Commands received by the communication device may comprise wiredcommunications, wireless communications, or combination of these. Thecommunication device may relay the first remote command to the controlsystem, resulting in the control system directing the at least onepiezoelectric transducer to actuate, where directing comprises sendingthe first signal to the at least one piezoelectric transducer.

Step 320 of FIG. 5 comprises determining, based on said analyzing, ahardness of the portion of external tissue and a magnitude of the secondforce exerted by the portion of external tissue. Determining maycomprise calculating, by a computer algorithm or by a user, the hardnessof the portion of external tissue based on data relating to signals fromthe piezoelectric transducer, such as the amount of force required toindent the portion of tissue by moving the piezoelectric transducer aspecified distance, the amount of resistive force exerted by the portionof external tissue upon indentation by the piezoelectric transducer, ora combination of these. Tissue which has a large degree of swelling orinflammation may show a higher degree of resistive force (higherhardness) than normal healthy tissue. Tissue which has a large degree oftrauma or damage or blood loss, may exhibit a lower resistive force(lower hardness) than normal tissue. The hardness determine in step 320and data relating to signals received from the piezoelectric transducersmay be stored in the computer memory, may be output through an outputdevice such as described above, or a combination of these.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of this invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A subject pose determining method comprising: placing a subject ontoa surface of a platform, said platform having a first radio-frequencytransceiver located at a first location on said surface and a secondradio-frequency transceiver located at a second location on saidsurface, wherein said subject is a human being; placing a firstradio-frequency transponder onto an upper extremity of said subject;placing a second radio-frequency transponder onto a lower extremity ofsaid subject; transmitting a first radio-frequency signal from saidfirst radio-frequency transceiver to said first radio-frequencytransponder on said upper extremity of said subject, resulting in saidfirst radio-frequency transponder sending a second radio-frequencysignal to said first radio-frequency transceiver; transmitting a thirdradio-frequency signal from said second radio-frequency transceiver tosaid second radio-frequency transponder on said lower extremity of saidsubject, resulting in said second radio-frequency transponder sending afourth radio-frequency signal to said second radio-frequencytransceiver; receiving by said first radio-frequency transceiver saidsecond radio-frequency signal; receiving by said second radio-frequencytransceiver said fourth radio-frequency signal; and determining a poseof said subject based on said receiving said second radio-frequencysignal and said receiving said fourth radio-frequency signal, whereinthe method comprises placing radio-frequency transponders onto saidsubject, and wherein a totality of said transponders consist of thefirst radio-frequency transponder and the second radio-frequencytransponder.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said platform furthercomprises a computer system operably coupled to said firstradio-frequency transceiver and said second radio-frequency transceiver,wherein said determining a pose comprises: receiving data from saidfirst and second radio-frequency transceivers by said computer system,said data corresponding to said second and fourth radio-frequencysignals; analyzing said data by a computer program; and determiningbased on said analyzing that said first radio-frequency transponder onsaid upper extremity of said subject is located near said firstradio-frequency transceiver located at said first location, and thatsaid second radio-frequency transponder on said lower extremity of saidsubject is located near said second radio-frequency transceiver locatedat said second location.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said platformcomprises a first end and a second end, said second end opposing saidfirst end, wherein said first location is on said first end and saidsecond location is on said second end.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid second radio-frequency signal comprises data identifying said firstradio-frequency transponder as being located on said upper extremity ofsaid subject, and wherein said fourth radio-frequency signal comprisesdata identifying said second radio-frequency transponder as beinglocated on said lower extremity of said subject.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein said first radio-frequency signal is characterized by a firstfrequency, said second radio-frequency signal is characterized by asecond frequency, said third radio-frequency signal is characterized bya third frequency, and said fourth radio-frequency signal ischaracterized by a fourth frequency, wherein said second frequency isdifferent from said fourth frequency.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinsaid first frequency is different from said third frequency.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said first radio-frequency transponder andsaid second radio-frequency transponder each have a transmission rangebetween about 0 centimeters and about 100 centimeters.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said first radio-frequency transponder and said secondradio-frequency transponder each have a transmission range between about0 centimeters and about 10 centimeters.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein said upper extremity is selected from the group consisting ofhead, shoulder, and a combination thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein said lower extremity is selected from the group consisting ofknee, hip, stomach, and combinations thereof.
 11. A subject posedetermining method comprising: placing a subject onto a surface of aplatform, said platform having a first radio-frequency transceiverlocated at a first location on said surface and a second radio-frequencytransceiver located at a second location on said surface, wherein saidsubject is a human being; placing a first radio-frequency transponderonto an upper extremity of said subject; placing a secondradio-frequency transponder onto a lower extremity of said subject;transmitting a first radio-frequency signal from said firstradio-frequency transceiver to said first radio-frequency transponder onsaid upper extremity of said subject, resulting in said firstradio-frequency transponder sending a second radio-frequency signal tosaid first radio-frequency transceiver; transmitting a thirdradio-frequency signal from said second radio-frequency transceiver tosaid second radio-frequency transponder on said lower extremity of saidsubject, resulting in said second radio-frequency transponder sending afourth radio-frequency signal to said second radio-frequencytransceiver; receiving by said first radio-frequency transceiver saidsecond radio-frequency signal; receiving by said second radio-frequencytransceiver said fourth radio-frequency signal; and determining a poseof said subject based on said receiving said second radio-frequencysignal and said receiving said fourth radio-frequency signal, whereinthe first radio-frequency transponder comprises a computer microchipcapable of being programmed and storing data, wherein the methodcomprises storing said data in the first radio-frequency transponder,wherein said stored data comprises information about the firstradio-frequency transponder, a location of the first radio-frequencytransponder, and patient information pertaining to the subject, whereinthe patient information comprises a name of the subject, an address ofthe subject, a government issued identification number of the subject, amedical condition of the subject, and a blood type of the subject, andwherein the second radio-frequency signal sent by the firstradio-frequency transponder to the first radio-frequency transceivercomprises the stored data.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein analgorithm is programmed into the computer microchip in the firstradio-frequency transponder, and wherein the method further comprisesexecuting the algorithm, and wherein said executing the algorithmcomprises: analyzing the first radio-frequency signal received by thefirst radio-frequency transponder from the first radio-frequencytransceiver to determine that the second radio-frequency signal is tocomprise the stored data; and responsive to said analyzing, insertingthe stored data into the second radio-frequency signal.